Far UVC Air Chemistry

Q: Is it safe to be in the room with Far-UVC lights on?
A: Yes – the Far-UVC lamps are operated at intensities well within established safety limits for human exposure. Extensive testing was done to ensure that the 222 nm UV levels are far below the threshold that could cause skin or eye irritation during an 8-hour workday. In fact, Far-UVC light is incapable of penetrating deeply into skin or eyes, and our lamps have filters to remove any harmful wavelengths. Additionally, the ozone and any chemical byproducts produced are expected to remain very low – within normal indoor air ranges – thanks to the high ventilation and short operating times. We continuously monitor the air quality. So essentially, being in the experiment room under these conditions is as safe as being in any regular LBNL office. If it weren’t, we wouldn’t be running the study with volunteers!

Q: What do I need to bring or do to prepare?
A: You don’t need to do much special preparation. Bring your work materials as if you’re going to work in another office for a few hours: your laptop, charger, any files or notebooks you need, and personal items you’d normally have. We provide monitors (with HDMI, USB-C, and other common connectors), keyboards, and mice if needed, but you are also welcome to bring your own peripherals if you prefer. Dress as you normally would for work – no special attire is needed (if anything, consider wearing layers in case the room is cooler or warmer than your usual space). If you’re coming for a lunch session, you're welcome to bring your own lunch (a refrigerator and microwave are available) unless you’ve been informed that lunch will be provided that day. It’s a good idea to arrive 10–15 minutes early to get set up comfortably. We also ask that on the day, you avoid very strong perfumes or colognes out of consideration for others and to avoid skewing the air measurements. Normal personal care products are fine – just skip the extra scented lotions or body spray that day. Lastly, be sure to complete the consent form online beforehand (or be prepared to do so on-site).

Q: Do I need permission from my supervisor to do this during work hours?
A: Since this study involves volunteering during what might normally be your work time, it’s a good idea to clear it with your supervisor if your absence would otherwise be noticed or if you have duties at a fixed location. In many cases, participating in a 3-hour session can be viewed as working remotely (you’ll be doing your own work, just from a different on-site location). Many supervisors are supportive, especially as this contributes to Lab research. But if your job requires you to be in a specific place (say, in a lab or customer-facing position) or you have shift duties, you should ask your supervisor if it’s okay to schedule a session. For some, it might be simplest to arrange participation during an off-peak time or lunch hour if possible. Ultimately, it’s your responsibility to ensure the time away from your usual workplace is approved if necessary. We do not actively inform supervisors of who participates, so it’s up to you to manage your schedule. Remember that participation is voluntary – there should be no pressure from management to join, nor any penalty for not participating.

Q: Can I work or meet with my team there? Can I sign up with colleagues?
A: Yes! We encourage both individual and group participation. You can certainly arrange to have a meeting or group work session with colleagues in the test space. Up to 8 people can attend a meeting or lunch session together. If you want to do this, indicate on the sign-up form that you’re interested in a group session and list the others (or have them sign up for the same slot). For office sessions, we allow up to 5 people plus our researcher. If you and a colleague or two want to sign up for the same office session, you can – just coordinate to pick the same time slot, or mention it to us so we can place you together. Important: Participation must be voluntary, so if you’re organizing a group, do not pressure anyone to participate. Make it clear it’s optional and provide a way for them to join the meeting remotely if they prefer not to be part of the experiment. This way no one feels coerced. As long as everyone is willing, we’d love to host your team for a meeting. The space is quite nice for a meeting (large screen available, coffee/snacks provided). Many groups have found it a fun bonding activity as well as a chance to help science.

Q: What if I sign up and then can’t make it or I’m running late?
A: If you need to cancel or reschedule, just let us know as soon as possible by email ([email protected]) or by updating your response on the sign-up form. We completely understand that conflicts come up. There is usually a waiting list of alternates or we can combine your slot with another, so an early heads-up helps us manage that. If you wake up sick or have an emergency the day of, no worries – please do not feel obligated to come if you’re unwell or something urgent arises (though do shoot us an email or call if possible). If you are just running a few minutes late, still come – we’ll delay the start for a short grace period. However, if you are more than ~20 minutes late, we might begin without you or may have to shorten your participation. Try to arrive 15 minutes early to avoid any timing issues. We build in a little buffer, but the experiments are on a schedule too. Bottom line: communication is key. We appreciate you making the effort to be on time, and we’ll accommodate as best as we can.

Q: Do I get any compensation or reward for participating?
A: All participants who are LBNL employees or affiliates participate on a volunteer basis, and as such we cannot offer monetary compensation (per DOE and Lab policies). Your “reward” is primarily the experience itself – you get to work in a nice space with free coffee, snacks, possibly lunch, and the satisfaction of contributing to important research that could improve workplace health in the future. We hope that’s a meaningful incentive! If you are not an LBNL affiliate and not a federal employee (for example, perhaps a U.C. Berkeley student who joins via a guest pass), then you may be eligible for a small gift card as a thank-you, typically equivalent to $15 per hour of your participation. Unfortunately, federal employees (including Lab employees) cannot receive these incentives, and we have to abide by those rules. But many of our LBNL staff volunteers have said the change of scenery and knowledge that they are helping science is rewarding in itself. We greatly appreciate your time.

Q: Will my name or data be published? Is this confidential?
A: We take privacy and research ethics seriously. No personal identities of participants will be revealed in any published reports or discussions of the study. When we report results, it will be in aggregate form (e.g., “20 participants reported on perceived air quality…” or “ozone levels during occupied tests were X, compared to Y in empty-room tests”). We do not tie any observations to specific individuals. The consent form you sign also explains that your participation will be kept confidential. Within the research team, we maintain a record of participants for scheduling and safety oversight purposes, but we do not share this list outside the team. LBNL management or HR is not notified of your participation in any routine way. The only conceivable exceptions might be if something occurred that required notifying the Lab for safety or operational reasons – which are highly unlikely scenarios (for example, if a participant had an accident and was injured, or if it came to light someone participated during a time they were explicitly not supposed to be away from their duty – but those are very rare situations). In short, your boss or colleagues won’t know you participated unless you choose to tell them. And you’re very welcome to share the study with others and let them know that you took part! We actually appreciate word-of-mouth to help get more volunteers (just remember not to bias anyone by promising them results – we’re blinded on conditions).

Q: How will the data be used? Can I find out the results?
A: The data collected (air quality measurements, survey responses, etc.) will be analyzed by our research team to assess the impacts of Far-UVC on indoor air chemistry. We plan to publish our findings in a scientific journal and may also present them at seminars or conferences. All results will be anonymized and aggregated; individual participant names will not be attached to any data. If you’re interested in the outcomes, we can certainly share updates once the study is complete. We expect to have initial findings by next year and will likely publish the results by 2026. We might also post a summary on the Indoor Environment Group website. As a participant, you won’t receive a personalized report (since the study isn’t about your individual performance or exposure, but rather overall conditions). However, we’d be happy to send you a copy of any publication or summary report if you request it. Our goal is to contribute knowledge on Far-UVC safety; your involvement makes this possible, and we’re happy to share with you what we discover.

Q: I’m not an expert – how can I be sure this is safe?
A: It’s completely understandable to have concerns about UV or ozone exposure. Our team includes experienced indoor air scientists, chemists, and safety specialists who have carefully designed this study under the oversight of Berkeley Lab’s safety committees. Far-UVC technology has been under extensive study globally, and safety guidelines (like those from ACGIH and IEC) give clear exposure limits – we strictly adhere to those. Think of it this way: The amount of Far-UVC light you’ll experience in our chamber is much less than the UV you’d get stepping outside on a sunny day (but of a different wavelength that doesn’t penetrate skin). And the ozone levels, if any, are comparable to what’s measured in typical offices or even cleaner, since our ventilation is robust. We also have redundant safety controls, including real-time monitoring, emergency stop buttons for lamps, and trained staff on site. If at any point something seemed off, we would halt the experiment. Your well-being is our top priority. We want you not only to be safe but also to feel comfortable and relaxed while participating.

Have other questions or concerns? Feel free to reach out to us anytime. We want our volunteers to be fully informed and at ease!